23 Good moments before everything crumbles (1/2)

Three in the morning, Mariko's eyes opened wide on their own. ”Fuck” She said in her mind and tries to sleep back. Both anxious and excitement boosted her mind to wake up at her usual time. ”Got nothing to do down there anymore...” She said before drifting back to sleep. She has been avoiding waking up and going down every time she wakes up early, mostly because of Alice.

At the same time, Yagano wakes up due to the same reason and went down. ”Good morning!” He shouted while standing in the middle, then he felt a presence in the kitchen and looked to see Alice peeking. ”Good morning” Alice greeted. ”Are you the only one here?” Yagano asked as he took a seat on one of the chairs in the bar. ”Yes, Suzu-chan and Haru-chan are heading for Gentaro-san. you know why” Alice answered inside the kitchen. ”Ah, Is that so...” He thought of how hardworking the two girls are. ”Must be a real pain in the ass working up every day, huh?” Yagano said. ”It's nothing when you get used to it” Alice faintly answered. ”Do you want anything? Yagano-san?” She asked. ”Hm...” Yagano looked up and saw that the drawings were removed. ”Where was the art displayed here? How am I gonna choose?” He asked. ”There's a menu just below the counter, go take one” Alice answered. ”Huh...” Yagano opened up the flip-up door and looked under the counter. He saw a pile of menus, there was nothing else there but the menus. He took one and closed down the door and returned to his seat. ”Hm...” He chuckled at the basic design of the cover of the menu, Spoon and Fork forming an X shape with two chicken drumsticks behind it and 'Hirashiko Diner' below it. ”Still gets me to smile...” He whispered as he opened the book. ”Have you made your choice yet?” Alice asked. ”Hold on... Let's see...” He scanned the list of foods available, then something came up in his mind. ”Hey, Alice-chan. Don't you think you should separate the foods that are recommended for certain times? Like foods for breakfast and the ones for Lunch?” He asked. ”Eh...” Alice made a noise as a response. ”I can see some foods here that work well for breakfasts” He continued. ”Tell that to Suzu-chan, She's the one handling the menus...” Alice said.

”Uh... Well, I will just get coffee” He didn't know what to eat and just went for the coffee. ”Don't waste the time and energy you just used to get that menu” Alice said. ”E-Eh...” He was forced and ended up with food. Alice didn't take long on his food and got it after a few moments. ”Hm...” He looked at his bowl of rice with a raw egg on it. ”I didn't expect it to be raw...” Yagano looked at the menu again to read the name, it was one of the few new dishes they had. ”Is it fine to eat the egg like this?” He whispered to himself. ”Aren't they experiencing too much...?” He continued as he mixed everything and started to eat. ”Hm...” He liked it anyway. While he was eating, Alice finished whatever she was working in the kitchen and went out to see him. ”How was it?” She asked, looking at his bowl. ”It's good... I don't know how to properly describe it but it's good... Though, I was worried about the raw egg” He laid his worries. ”Is it fine to eat the egg like that?” He asked. ”Yes. We taste our new foods before we make it into our dishes. We would be acting up if there's something wrong about eating raw eggs” Alice answered. Then She took a seat beside him and looked at him. ”Say, Yagano-san. What do you feel about this war? Do you hate the people because they wanted the war?” She asked. ”War, huh...” He stopped eating. ”The people were driven to the edge and became out of control, that led them to think only of war. So I don't hate them” He said. ”I also kind of feel them. I also wanted to bring up a war to take back our village” He continued. ”But that's the most horrible solution to rely on. Sometimes we can just talk to them and make a deal” He continued further. ”...But the people said that they have annihilated the whole village and killed a lot of Tsuchiyan during that time. So talking to them is out of the question. What about that?” Alice asked.

”Hah. Are you interrogating me now? Well, That's fine I guess. Sometimes I liked being asked about things” Yagano laughed. ”But of course it is. It really depends” He continued. ”Huh... Do you think we will win?” Alice asked. ”Dunno. The reason we are finally going to war is only because of the girls' powers. Not like we have developed more dominating technology than them so I'm not sure” He answered. Alice looked at the table. ”...It's like finally making a production of your newly invented crossbows with your small army and declaring war on a large country just because they don't have the same weapon” Alice whispered to herself. ”Then they will just know that the large army had crossbows too, and they were the ones who invented them first...” She continues and looked at Yagano. ”You're really on making weird examples, huh?” He smiled. ”What's weird about it?” Alice asked. ”Nevermind... But yeah, they got the powers from the enemies. And probably more powerful than what the girls' have. People didn't give a damn about it for as long as they thought having power is enough” His voice started to change. ”It's really risky, thinking about it again. But like Gentaro said, we got no choice. No resolve, This Is War” He said. ”Huh, That sounds familiar” Alice thought of the last words he said. ”Whatever...” She shrugged it off. ”I also know about that. Then how if Chi-chan and her friends die because they failed on something somewhere there in Tsuchiya? What do you think will happen?” She asked. ”What else? We're screwed. They are gonna wipe us out of the earth's surface” Yagano answered. ”How if we won?” Alice asked. ”Then we win? We'll be able to take back Tsuchiya and... Maybe drive them off from our lands or make a peace deal with them. I'd rather make a deal with them. It will be a waste if we don't befriend them. They are weird people. claiming that they came from other worlds and they have these crazy technologies” He answered. ”But why are we befriending them? If we won then that means we have killed a lot of their people. Doesn't that make them mad or something?” She asked.

”So did they killed a lot of our people. It's fair enough. We have avenged our fallen people. There's no need for further deaths” He answered. ”A Fairtrade, I see...” Alice nodded. ”...How if no one wons?” She asked. ”Uh... Then no one wins? There can't be no winners” It became awkward. ”...How if no one wons” Alice wanted his answer. ”Then it will all return to this very situation, just thousands of lives wasted” He answered. ”That so? Huh... Weird” Alice sighed. ”How about you Alice-chan? How do you feel about the war?” Yagano asked her. ”I'm scared...” Alice answered and Yagano looked at her. ”You don't look scared...” He said. ”You want me to look scared?” Alice looked at him to ask. ”No...” Yagano laughed. He sighed and continued to finish his breakfast. Alice just watched him eat and took his empty bowl as he finished. ”Thank you, that was good” Yagano thanked him as she walks to the kitchen. Then a few seconds, he heard voices from the outside then the door went open. Haruki showed up. ”We're back... Oh? Good morning, Yagano-san! Perfect timing!” She grinned. ”Hm?” Yagano looked at their way, Suzuka and Gentaro were also here. ”Good morning” Suzuka greeted. ”Morning... Gentaro?” He looked at him. ”Hey, morning Yagano-san” Gentaro quickly went to sit beside him. The two girls went to the hallway. ”The meeting went well and they all agreed. Everyone's preparing, Yagano-san. We're using everything we have, we're gonna throw everything we can at them. I stationed some soldiers from each village, they will come back and report once the village is prepared” He said. ”I hope Chiho-san and her friends are also prepared... They will be our superior weapons” He continued. ”Heh... You sounded like they are a tool or something” Yagano laughed. ”Hah, I know right? But seriously, Their power is the only thing that can at least fight those guys. Our army will just be shot at from far away”. They continued to talk about that until sunrise.

Eight in the morning. ”So what I'm saying is...” Gentaro saw Mariko coming and stopped talking. His face suddenly became serious. ”Uh..Genta..?” Yagano looked at him stands up and approach Mariko. ”Oh, You're awake” Yagano saw Mariko with bed hair. ”We've been waiting for you, Mariko-san” Gentaro said. ”Huh? Leader-san? What are you doing here early in the morning?” Mariko looked like she snapped to reality. ”Where's Chiho and everyone? We're firing up the war now, We need you to the Center” He joked. ”Oh.. Hm...” Yagano chuckled and let him trick them. ”R-Right now?!” Effective, Mariko panicked. ”Yeah, Go and wake your friends” Gentaro pats her shoulder. ”Y-Yes!” Mariko ran back upstairs. ”Come on, Gentaro. When are you going to grow up? Also, that's a very bad joke” Yagano said. ”That's for waking up late” Gentaro smirked. Then He sat beside him and waited for the girls to show up. After a few moments, ”Here they are...” Gentaro heard their voices coming down from the stairs, Yagano sighed. The girls hurried to face Gentaro. ”S-Sorry to keep you waiting!” Chiho apologized, panting. ”Oh no, Katsuko too?” Yagano saw that Katsuko was also there. ”It's finally time, huh?” Chiho said. ”Yes...” Gentaro looked at the girls. ”It's now or never guys. Eat your breakfast, because...” He closed his eyes. ”Because it's getting late...” He continued, the girls got confused a bit. ”...You what, I was just kidding...” He said. There was no response but after a second, Mariko grabbed his hair. ”Oh?” He looked at Mariko, whos had her fist ready to strike his face. ”Gr..!” ”Whoops!” Gentaro avoided her punch and quickly barged out of the Inn. ”Hey!” Mariko wanted to chase him but shouted instead. ”He just trying to wake you all up...” Yagano smiled at them, Mariko turned to him. ”Oh come on...” Mariko was glaring at him. ”It's his idea. I wasn't even taking part in it” He said. Mariko grunted and took a seat beside him and slams her own face to the table.

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”You have no idea how nervous we got...” Mariko puts her arms to the table to rest her head. ”Geez, That old man!” Ayumi pouted. ”Seriously though, He said that the meeting went well and everyone's willing to fight. They are preparing, We will act quickly once all are good to go. So don't go oversleeping like that” Yagano sounded like he was scolding them so the girls felt sorry. ”But it's not even noon yet! It's not oversleeping! You just wake up early!” Ayumi shouted. ”It's a lot worse if you wake up at noon... Also in war, You can never be able to sleep like this so...” ”Sleep all you want while you can” ”Get used to waking up early” Yagano looked at Mariko, then sighed. ”Don't blame if you get into trouble” He said. ”Oh? What could possibly go wrong?” Mariko asked. ”Sometimes, We will need to act at nights, where most of them are resting” Yagano answered. ”Eh, Bullshit. How if they are on moving at night too?” Mariko asked. ”Then we will face them...” Yagano answered. ”Second, You might get all sleepy at battles” He continued. ”That's another bullshit. Who the fuck don't get their blood running at critical times?” Mariko argued. ”I'm talking about you sleepyheads” He answered. ”Who do you think I am?! Maybe you're talking about Ayumi here!” She pointed at Ayumi. ”What?!” Ayumi shouted and Yagano sighed. ”Whatever, whatever. Do whatever you want today because we will get busy soon enough...” He said as he stands up. ”Where are you going, father?” Chiho asked when Yagano heads for the door. ”Oh, you know. I'll be staying with Gentaro again” He said before leaving.

”He did nothing but stay with Leader-san, huh? Things are really changing...” Mariko wanted to show how anxious she is. ”I'd rather start the war immediately rather than waking up everyday to see everything change around you because of an incoming war” She continued. They didn't react to her and remained silent. After a few seconds of silence, Alice came in from the door. ”I'm back. Oh, Suzu-chan and Haru-chan aren't here yet? Where's Gentaro-san and Yagano-san?” She asked when she saw nobody but them. ”T-They are out?! Then we were the only one left here?!” Mariko quickly raised her head to look at her. ”Gentaro-san and Yagano-san said that they will stay here until they come back. What happened?” Alice asked as she closed the door behind her. ”Well, something urgent happened and they had to go. Luckily, we were already down here when they went out” Mariko lied. ”Ah, Is that so. Thanks for looking out for the Inn” Alice thanked them and head to the kitchen. ”What would you girls want for breakfast?” Alice peeked from the kitchen to ask. ”Ah!” Ayumi suddenly became happy.

After having their breakfast, they planned to head out. Just outside the Inn, ”Mother? Are you going with us?” Chiho asked Katsuko. ”Nope. I'm going to take a stroll to the Center. I guess I will head for your father too, I don't know” She answered. ”Ah, I see. Shu-san said that she wanted to visit her home, so I guess we will head out for a bit” Chiho told her their plan. ”I see. Be careful out there!” Katsuko pats Chiho's head. ”Yes!” Chiho responded with a bright smile. ”Then, I will get going” Katsuko started to walk and waved at them. They waved back before going to their R37. Then they proceeded to the gate and went out. On the field, ”You said that your country finally had a second village few weeks ago, right?” Chiho asked Shu Fang. ”...Yes” She responded. ”Chu-yuan is the first one to get a new settlement, huh?” Mariko was amazed by their second village. ”Despite the incoming war, You Chus still managed to build another village like that... What's the name?” Mariko asked. ”...Quan” ”Kuwan” ”Kwanu” Shu Fang told the name then Mariko and Chiho repeats the name. ”...You've been to the North and still can't properly?” Shu Fang asked. ”Fine. Quan” ”Quanu” Mariko and Chiho tried it again. ”...There's something wrong with Chiho's pronunciation...” Shu Fang complained about Chiho. ”Well, I'm sorry. I'm not used to those kinds of names” Chiho felt a little bit jealous. ”Hah! I can pronounce it just right!” Mariko laughed, proud of herself. ”How about you Ayumi?” Mariko looked at Ayumi. ”Quan” ”Eeeh...? I'm the only one?” Ayumi said it just right and Chiho felt down. ”Hah! You're drowning in your own culture, Chiho! Try and learn the others too!” Mariko laughed. ”Eh... Fine...” Chiho sighed and just went along. After a few minutes, they saw a village a few kilometers from the Chu-yuan. ”Is that the village?! Hah! It looks cute!” Mariko saw that it's not protected by walls and is very prone to attacks. ”...They say that it'll act like a place for sentries or any other soldiers in mission for a resting place or something... Just, It's about the soldiers...” Shu Fang said.

”I see! So it's safe from bandits, huh? It'll be full of soldiers...” Mariko felt better hearing about it. ”...Let's go to Quan...” Shu Fang said. ”Right!” Chiho responded and accelerates faster. When they approached the village, Chiho looked for the entrance and headed there. ”Chiho-san? Is it? What is your business here? Do you have a message for us?” Two guards were watching the entrance and one of them asked Chiho. ”我们是来参-” Shu Fang talked to them in their language and Mariko quickly missed the chance of hearing her words. the guards' faces quickly changed. After a few seconds, The guards smiled at them. ”Hope you enjoy your visit then, Chiho-san, everyone” The guards bowed lightly and they proceeded. Though they are already inside, It currently has five houses and there were only a few people. They can see how busy the people were by how fast they walk, and some of them are heading to a herd of cattle enclosed by wooden fences, just to their left. ”...Let's walk around” Shu Fang was eager to explore the village, despite how small it is. And to their surprise, most of the people there recognized her. ”...Ever since the leader went to talk with us Assassins, people immediately became friendly towards us” Shu Fang said as she noticed their reaction to the people talking to her. ”Of course. Who would hate a handful of killers that are willing to side up with them?” Mariko crossed her arms. ”...They don't always accept that kind of opportunity. And we thought we will be hated” Shu Fang said. ”Ah. Is that so” Mariko sighed. After exploring the village a bit, talking to the people there about the village, they stopped in the middle. ”...This is going to be a nice village” Shu Fang smiled as she looked around. Her smile made them feel better. ”It is... The people here are very friendly, despite how busy they are. Most people I met are grumpy when they are working on something” Mariko appreciates them. ”I know right?! They don't want to be bothered when they are busy!” Ayumi went along. ”...I'm already satisfied. How about you guys? Do you want to go somewhere? I will still go with you” Shu Fang asked.